WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP - Campbelle scores first half-century in 17 years

Shemaine Campbelle played the knock of her life to power the West Indies to a seven-wicket win over defending champions New Zealand in their first match of the T20 World Cup at the Hampshire Bowl yesterday.

Seventeen years since making her T20I debut, after over 150 matches, Campbelle finally found her place in the sun. With her team's hopes hanging in the balance, the 33-year-old scored her first T20I half-century, finishing at an unbeaten 90 as West Indies overhauled New Zealand's 162/6 with a ball to spare.

With that, West Indies avenged the semi-final defeat at the 2024 T20 World Cup. 

It is also the second-highest successful chase in Women's T20 World Cup, just one short of the highest ever recorded by England against Australia in 2009.

While West Indies rode their luck, New Zealand scuppered their chances by spilling about seven catches, letting go of three stumping opportunities, and sloppy ground fielding.

After West Indies elected to field, Aaliyah Alleyne turned in a star performance, claiming 4-27 in her four overs. She not only gave West Indies the breakthrough by dismissing Georgia Plimmer, but followed it up with key scalps of Amelia Kerr and Isabella Gaze in her next over.

The four-wicket haul was her best in T20Is.

Gaze had given New Zealand the early impetus, with a brisk 39 off 29. However, every time the defending champions looked like settling in the contest, West Indies responded with wickets. Later on, Brooke Halliday (40) and Maddy Green (35 not out) made sure New Zealand posted a healthy 162 on the board.

A lot rested on captain Hayley Matthews' shoulders as West Indies walked out for the chase. She stamped her authority with back-to-back fours. However, a misunderstanding while running between the wickets saw Qiana Joseph run out early.

Matthews and Campbelle laid the foundation for the win with a 74-run partnership for the second wicket. The captain led the charge with 48 off 37 balls. Though Matthews and Campbelle found the boundaries, they kept the scoreboard ticking with some sensible cricket.

West Indies, and Campbelle, shifted gears only in the last six overs. The Guyanese player put on a display of power-hitting and brought up her first T20I 50 with a big heave over long on. With the match going down to the wire, Campbelle kept her wits about her, punishing the loose balls and running hard between the wickets to take West Indies past the finish line. 

Jess Kerr was the only New Zealand bowler among the wickets yesterday, as she claimed 2-17 in her four overs. But a lot of their good work with the ball was undone by some abject fielding.